Writing Cause and
Effect Essays
Cristina Maldonado for
the Writing Center
Roxbury Community College
Fall 2008
1
What is a Cause and Effect Essay?
A Cause and Effect Essay provides
reasons and explanations for events,
conditions, or behaviors.
 It involves tracing probable or known
effects of a certain cause or examining
one or more effects and discussing the
reasonable or known cause(s).

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Understanding the Assignment

Cause and Effect Essay assignments
typically use the following language:
 "What
are the causes of X?"
 "What led to X?"
 "Why did X occur?"
 "Why does X happen?"
 "What would be the effects of X?"
“Writing Essay Exams”. The OWL at Purdue. 27 May 2008
<http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/general/gl_essay.html>.
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Example:

Define recession and discuss the probable
effects a recession would have on
American society.
“Writing Essay Exams”. The OWL at Purdue. 27 May 2008
<http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/general/gl_essay.html>.
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Essay Characteristics

Presentation of the event or issue.
 The
reader must first understand that a
problem or issue exists. This explanation is
key to your analysis.
The use of strong, assertive language that
shows neither negativity nor bias.
 The use of factual evidence to show the
cause and effect relationship.

Jordan-Henley, Jennifer. “A Brief Guide to Writing Cause and Effect Essays”. The RSCC Online Writing Lab. Roane State Community
College. 27 May 2008 <http://www.rscc.cc.tn.us/owl&writingcenter/OWL/Cause.html>.
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Presentation of the Issue
It is important for your reader to
understand why the issue exists.
 An explanation of the issue in combination
with a cause/effect analysis will allow the
reader to understand your point of view.

Jordan-Henley, Jennifer. “A Brief Guide to Writing Cause and Effect Essays”. The RSCC Online Writing Lab. Roane State Community
College. 27 May 2008 <http://www.rscc.cc.tn.us/owl&writingcenter/OWL/Cause.html>.
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Use Fact-Based Evidence to
Support Claims


Use the RCC Library website to search the
research databases to locate data
Search the internet for published studies and
credible organizations
 For
more information about library research, please
see a Writing Center tutor or visit the RCC library
weblink at this address: http://www.rcc.mass.edu/lib/
and go to tutorials for doing research.
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Avoid Negative Statements and
Bias

Avoid biased statements or make negative
statements to the reader
 The
American public is too blind to see that the
death penalty is wrong. Voter ignorance is one
contributing factor that allows policies like the
death penalty to come into law.
 More death penalty education is needed to
provide the voting public with the information
they need to make informed decisions.
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Use the 3rd Person


I believe that the death penalty is wrong
because it is a state sanctioned form of
murder.
The death penalty is wrong because it is a
state sanctioned form of murder.
 The
removal of the “I believe that” makes the
sentence more forceful. The purpose of a cause and
effect paper is to be as convincing as possible and to
convince readers to accept the cause and effect as
plausible.
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Brainstorming



Complete some initial brainstorming to
determine cause and effect relationships for
your topic.
As stated earlier, conduct research to find
factual information.
Determine if any of your cause/effect
relationships are faulty. Your conclusions are
faulty if the cause-and-effect relationship does
not exist, if it is unreasonable, or not clearly
established.
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Causal Relationships
Necessary Cause—One that must be
present for the effect to occur.
Combustion is necessary to drive a
gasoline engine.
Sufficient Cause—One that can
produce an effect unaided, though
there may be more than one sufficient
cause of a given effect.
A dead battery is enough to keep a car
from starting, but faulty spark plugs or
an empty gas tank will have the same
effect.
Contributory Cause—One that helps
to produce an effect but cannot do so
by itself.
Running a red light might help to
cause an accident- although other
factors such as pedestrians and other
cars- must also be present.
The Cause and Effect Essay. Mount Hebron High School. 27 May 2008
<http://www.howard.k12.md.us/mth/english_dept/adv-comp/eng_effect.html>.
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Important Questions to Ask




Have I assumed only one cause when many causes may
be appropriate?
Have I incorrectly assumed a causal relationship
between two events that immediately follow each other?
Did I distinguish between long-term and short-term
causes and effects. A short-term cause or effect is a
single, immediately identifiable event; a long-term cause
or effect may be less easy to pinpoint but in the long run
more important?
Did I distinguish between primary (most important) and
secondary (ancillary) effects?
The Cause and Effect Essay. Mount Hebron High School. 27 May 2008
<http://www.howard.k12.md.us/mth/english_dept/adv-comp/eng_effect.html>.
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Creating a Thesis Statement
Once you have ensured that your cause
and effect relationships are not faulty, put
together your Thesis Statement.
 A recession, which is a nationwide lull in
business activity, would be detrimental to
American society in the following ways: it
would A, it would B and it would C.

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Transitional Words
Because
 Consequently,
 Therefore,
 For this reason
 As a result

“Writing Essay Exams”. The OWL at Purdue. 27 May 2008
<http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/general/gl_essay.html>.
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Points to Remember



Explain the issue, avoid negativity and bias, and
use the 3rd person voice to make your
assertions.
Perform a causal relationship analysis—make
sure your cause and effect relationships are
valid before you start writing.
Transitional words will help pinpoint the
similarities and differences for the reader – be
sure to use them.
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Last thought: Beware of the Fallacy
Don’t fall into the trap of making a fallacious
(incorrect and inaccurate) argument! Read about
the fallacies and make sure that you know how
to find them in your own writing.
Go to the following website to read about fallacies:
www.unc.edu/depts/weweb/handouts/fallacies
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